America SCORES Seattle

America SCORES Seattle inspires youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. We envision a world where all youth find their voices, achieve their goals and unleash their full potential. The America SCORES model was developed in 1994 in Washington, D.C., by Julie Kennedy, a public school teacher concerned that her students, lacking constructive after-school options, were at risk of gang activity and other dangers after class. Turning to her experience as an athlete, she began teaching her class soccer after school. In bad weather, she turned to her other passion, poetry, and began teaching her students how to write and perform their own. Soon, her students were more engaged in class, performing better academically, and being more active. By adding a service-learning element, Julie saw that her students developed confidence and learned that they could affect change in their community. Schools across D.C. took notice and the program expanded, becoming a national organization in 1999. America SCORES Seattle was founded by the Honorable Donald J. Horowitz in 2002.

America SCORES empowers students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, America SCORES inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities. We utilize soccer, poetry and service-learning as tools to encourage holistic, positive youth development. Teachers serve as our soccer and writing coaches, building stronger student-teacher relationships beyond the school day. The SCORES program is free to students and their families, and we provide transportation, healthy snacks, and all necessary supplies to eliminate barriers to participation.